Zoologisch-Botanischer Garten WilhelmaStuttgart

Short description

The Wilhelma´s root is a palace of king Wilhelm I. of Wuerttemberg, built in 1842 in Moorish style. Many buildings and gardens from that time are still extant.

The botanical gardens were opened to the public in 1918/1919, animal husbandry started after 1945. Since 1960, the garden has been enlarged and upgraded generously, without losing its park character.

In the seventies, houses for elephants, rhinoceroses, carnivores, hippopotamuses and apes were built with exposed concrete, the way it was modern in those days. All four ape species are kept and frequently bred at the Wilhelma.

A new house for African apes is to be completed in 2011. Experts rear motherless apes from all over Europe at the Wilhelma.

The biggest aquarium in Southern Germany opened in 1967. Various parts represent different habitats, with king penguins as a special attraction.

Tropical freshwater fish are presented as well as inhabitants of coral reefs. Part of the terrarium is a large crocodile hall, which re-opened in 2006 and now accomodates saltwater crocodiles, among them a white individual.

The Wilhelma is a classical big zoo with a rich variety of animal species. Some of them are rather extraordinary, e.g. kaka parrot, dusky leaf monkey, okapi, weedy sea dragon and Somalian wild ass.

Greenhouses accomodate orchids, camellia, succulents and carnivorous plants. Groups of old trees grow outside, among them sequoia, magnolia and gingko.

The upper zoo part is dominated by big aviaries, South America exhibits, enclosures for bears and mountain animals. It is possible to view the polar bears underwater. At a ´farm´, visitors get information about domestic animal husbandry yesterday and today.

The Amazon house, which ´brings rainforest to Wilhelma´, has been the biggest project so far. Here live monkeys, birds, caimans and other reptiles from the Amazon jungle, complemented by an insectarium and a butterfly hall.

Opening hours

In summer season Entrance ´Haupteingang´ from 8:15 hrs., Entrance ´Obere Entrance´ from 9 hrs., Entrance ´Pragstraße´ from 10 hrs. open (nur an on Sundays and on Holidaysen nach Bedarf), admission max. until 18 hrs.

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